Belt-stretcher.



PATBNTED APB.12, 1904.

J. B. GONNER.

BELT STRETGHER- APPLIOATIOH FILED my 2, 1902 10 MODEL.

; "Thurman STATES Patented April 12, 1904.

PATENT FFICEs JAMES B.

CONNER, or PENDLETON, INDIANA, Assielvos or ONE-HALF TO anno s. IMAn, or PENDLETON, INDIANA.

BELT-'STRETCHER.

} srnermcn'rron forming part of Letters 12mm: no. 757,272, dated April12,1904.

Application filed May 2, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, JAMES B. CONNER, a citizenof the United States, residing at Pendleton, in the county of Madison and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvemerits in Belt-Streteheraoi which the following is Eli-specification.

This invention relates to belt-stretchers; and

one of the Objects is to provide a belt-stretcher which can be conveniently operated to bring two ends of a belt together, so that-they can be laced.

With this and other objects in view the-invention consists in providing a rack-bar 'in clamped engagement with one end of the, belt,

an adjustable head-block longitudinally movable on the rack-bar, and parallel guide-bars connected to the head-block and passing through guide ears or lugs on the bar, said guide-bars being secured to a clamp fastened to the opposing end of the belt.

The invention also consists in a novel con-' struetion of clamp specifically described hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the meeting ends of a belt and showing the stretcher applied. Fig. 2 is .a perspective view of one of the clamps, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the head-block and operatinglever;

The reference-numeral 1 designates a rac k.

bar formed with alternating notches Qand 3 on its respective longitudinal edges. A longitudinally-moving head-block 4 is sleeved upon the rack-bar, and one end thereof is pen forated or slotted, as at 5, for the reception of a pivoted lever 6, working in the slot and carrying oppositely-disposed pivoted dogs or pawls T and 8, which alternately engage the respective edges of the rack-bar 1. The rackbar 1 is also provided withoppositeIy-dishosed ears or lugs 9, having perforationsthrough which project the guide rods or barslO, longi tudinally disposed with relation to the rack-bar and connected at their free ends to the headblock; These guide-rods are parallel with e ch other, being disposed on opposite sides ofi i'he Serial No. 155,386. (No model.)

rack-bar, and are preferably constructed of a Each jaw consists of two members, one of the members being in the form of a rectangular body (designated by the reference-numeral formed with a convex top surface to fit into the concave lower surface ofthe upper member 16, so that a firm grip can be had on the belt. Oppositely disposed pivoted or swinging bolts 17 and 18 are carried by the respective ends of one of the members to be swung into the terminal slots 19, formed in the overlapping flanges projecting from opposite ends of the coinciding member. Suitable tension-nuts 20 are threaded on the free ends 'of the bolts 17 and 18, whereby the opposing surfaces of the two members can be brought into clamped engagement upon the belt, so as to rigidly fasten the clamp thereto. As before stated, the two clamps are substantially alike; but one of them is fastened direct to the rack-bar 1 by a suitable connection, (designated by the reference-numeral 21.) The other clamp is'adjustable with'relation to the rack-bar through the medium of the guiderod 10 and the head-block 14, to which it is secured. I

When it is necessaryor desirable to remove a portion of the belt or-provide a new lacing each of the clamps are then caused to grip the opposing ends of the belt, as shown in Fig. 1. The operator must then vibrate the lever 6,

so as to cause first one and then the other dog to engage the notches between the teeth on the rack-bar, so that the two jaws-will be moved toward each other. As the head-block is moved up step by step upon the rack-bar the belt will be stretched. At the same time a certain amount of slack will be taken up, so vthat the meeting ends of the belt located between the clamps will possess all 'of the slack.

A proper portion of the belt can then be cut any deterioration to the belt, and While the con- 5 vex surface of the opposingjaw can be tightly clamped within the concave portion the belt cannot be injured while being stretched.

' This is a material advantage over jaws or clamps formed with sharp engaging edges, which are liable to mar or tear the belt during the process of stretching. I

In the foregoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that,

5 modifications may be made therein without Y departing fromthe spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve a the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimedas new is v ,1. A belt-stretcher, consisting of a pair of locking-clamps, each clamp comprising two members, a stretcher bar attached to one clamp and provided with notches in its opposite edges, a block movably held on the bar, a lever mounted in the block and carrying dogs l to engage the said notches, and means connecting the other clamp and the block.

2. A belt-stretcher, comprising two clamping devices, a bar connected to one of the clamping devices, anadjustable block carried by the bar, and means on either side of the bar for connecting the block to the other clampingdevice. l

3. A belt-stretcher, comprising two clamp ing devices, abar-ponnected to one of the clamping devices, an adjustable block carried by the bar, and two parallel rods or bars fastened to the block and connected by a twist 59 forming an eye connected to the otherclamping device. a

In testimony whereof I-aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES B. CONNER. Witnesses:

R. A. LINGENFELTER, H. T, CAMPBELL. 

